2 months before my lebaran holiday, i have been contemplating where to spend my 2 weeks holiday. i randomly asked my friend in Singapore if she'll be having a holiday that same month and then bam! we planned on how to spend a couple of days in singapore and bintan. moreover, a classmate of ours from college also decided to join us. it would be a semi reunion of some sort and i was excited. we didn't plan too much for this trip as we only wanted 2 things: foodtrip and steady hang out. in other words, a laid back vacation.
this entry will be a travel diary of some sort. since it was not a usual tourist trip, i will be narrating how our each day went. so buckle up, kids! i will flood you with photos and random chika.
photo credits: carla and kathleen (amors)
GETTING TO/FROM/AROUND
Singapore is easy to navigate. for this trip, we never took a taxi cab, only trains and buses. it also helps that we have a local to check what specific buses to take.
smrt
TIP: get an ez link card. buses and trains accept this card for an easier way to travel around.
RANDOM TOURIST RELATED STUFF
Left Baggage
on our first day, Carla and I left our baggage at changi airport as we would want to explore the city prior to meeting with Amors. Left baggage is located at the right side of arrival area, near the taxi queue. They charge ~3 SGD for each bag with less than 15 kilos (for 24 hours). i likewise left my bag here during my transit, but more of that later.
SIM CARD
i decided to stay connected to the world while i'm on my 2 weeks holiday so i bought a sim at the airport. Thankfully, the lady at the counter was a Filipina so it was easier for me to tell her what i wanted. the sim cost 50 SGD with 1 week unlimited 3G service and with some credits for sms and calls. i did't know if that was cheap or not but i was not fussy about it as long as i got connected.
ITINERARY/TRAVEL DIARY
August 6
Carla and I met at the arrival area of Changi airport. after leaving our luggage at the left Baggage, we went straight to mrt station for our first destination: Lucky Plaza. hahaha! we exchanged our money to singapore dollars before heading off to our next destination, which was the Merlion.
carla's first time to see the merlion. haha!
it was so freaking hot! we stayed a little longer under the bridge to cool off before walking towards the Esplanade. we were too tired and hungry that we had our late lunch at the food republic in suntec city mall.
mango shake and chicken rice
after refilling ourselves with yummy food, we went back to lucky plaza to meet up with amors. after which, we all went to h&m to buy bikinis for our bintan trip. we likewise explored orchard road through its malls.
laduree: pistachio and salted caramel macaroons
food court: butter chicken
August 7
since we woke up late, we decided to have brunch at a nearby hawker place. sadly, not all stands were open. we guessed that it might be the long weekend the following day so some decided to close that day. anyhow, we were pretty much happy with what we ordered. hawker dining is the best!
popiah (my fave!), cheecheongfun, nachocheese bread, lime juice
we then head off to explore singapore's science museum: Singapore Discovery Centre. my inner (closet) geekness was amazed!!
TIP: stay at least 2 hours. we stayed for 4 hours and we felt it was not enough. haha!
after the awesome time we had at the science centre, we rushed going to our next destination. we actually got lost but managed to find the correct way to reach the highlight of our night: Singapore Night Safari
The queue for the tram was long but we were so delighted as we were given the front row seats. we were able to perfectly hear what the tour guide was telling us. tram safari was short but great experience.
after the tram tour, we all went straight to the creature of the night show. it was actually entertaining!
to cap off our night safari experience was the Thumbuakar Performance (pyro warriors). we were definitely amused *wink* hahaha!
August 10
We took the first trip from Bintan enroute to Singapore. after leaving our bags to Amor's place, we had a quick bite at a nearby hawker place.
carrot cake and lime juice
after which, we all went to orchard for some shopping and snacking (again!). haha!
chicago mix FTW!
roast duck and mixed fruits shake
1 dollar ice cream
bus stop in front of somerset
on our last day in Singapore, Carla and I went to Marina Bay Sands for the Phantom of the Opera show. We had a quick munch at the food court prior to entering the theatre.
noodles and juice
okay, so about the phantom of the opera. it was ok. can you imagine me dozing off for a few minutes?? guilty! haha! but i was awake for the major scenes and highlights of the performance. carla and I were giggling like crazy while watching coz we were trying so hard to keep ourselves awake. we liked the whole play but not mesmerized with it. i did like the performance of the phantom character. intense!
we met amors after the phantom of the opera show. we then head off to the Gardens by the Bay. i paid 28 SGD each for the 2 conservatories visit. it was worth it! you will wonder how a small country like singapore manages to build gardens like these, maximing each space and visually pleasing too.
TIP: wear comfy shoes. some areas are slippery so be careful. also, late afternoon is a good time to see these places as not too hot and you can see how the "trees" lit up when twilight comes.
to cap off our last day in Singapore, we had a quick dinner at Toastbox and last minute organic shampoo shopping. hehe.
chicken curry and iced tea
Final Thoughts About Singapore
like i always say, Singapore always manages to surprise me everytime i visit. This trip was my favorite singapore trip so far! it was steady, gastronomic and the great company adds to the awesomeness. purrfect!
this trip actually marked the next level of me being a foodie wannabe. i wanted to try different cuisines. i somewhat promised my self not to repeat my meal choices when i travel. so far, it has been working well.
special thank you to our local host, amors, for being such a generous host. i'll miss you in Singapore! boo!
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